Tarleton signs agreement with Ecuadorean university

Tarleton State University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, September 25, 2013

STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Tarleton and the Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi in Ecuador have signed a memorandum of understanding calling for joint academic activities, student and faculty exchanges and joint research, especially in the environmental area in watershed management.

A seven-member delegation from the Ecuadorean university, including Jorge Humberto Bolaños, the vice president, are on campus this week for tours, meetings with faculty and consultation with Tarleton officials.

“This is a wonderful occasion,” Tarleton President Dr. F. Dominic Dottavio said at the signing ceremony Sept. 25. “We value the partnerships with universities outside the United States…. This particular partnership with you is important to us because it is very much in line with some of the most important and central programs we have here at Tarleton. For example, our College of Agriculture is one that has defined us and includes one of our highest points of pride, the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research. And we’re delighted to know of your interest in the health professions…. Clearly our nursing program is known for excellence with an outstanding facility.”

Bolaños thanked Tarleton officials for their hospitality and said he looked forward to collaborating in many areas that would be beneficial to both universities and their students.

Dr. Ali Saleh, associate director of Tarleton’s Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research paved the way for an agreement when he visited the Carchi campus in northern Ecuador last January.

The school, one of the newest universities in Ecuador, “is looking for partnerships with other universities in the U.S.A. and Europe in order to optimize the teaching and research activities in their institute,” Saleh said. “This collaboration will provide a great opportunity for both universities to exchange students, faculty and to conduct collaborative research.”